Lt. gov. visits Coca-Cola

Wednesday

May 23, 2007 at 12:01 AMMay 23, 2007 at 11:15 PM

Although Lt. Gov. Tim Murray bid adieu to Needham last week after a brief visit, the town received assurance from Coca-Cola that it won’t be leaving anytime soon, touting plans to double production at the Needham plant.

Steven Ryan

Murray swooped into Needham Friday, May 18, visiting the town’s Coca-Cola plant, which is planning to open a second waterline, increasing production and jobs and potentially lowering water bills.

“I’m very excited we’re able to keep production here,” said state Rep. Lida Harkins, D-Needham, who ushered Murray through town and hosted him on her cable access program. “There was some talk it might move to another location. It’s a good thing for the community that they’ll double capacity here.”

The second waterline is expected to bring 25 new local hires to the plant, Harkins said. Lanz told Murray the line is just part of the company’s larger hiring picture.

“We want to reverse the trend of 150,000 jobs lost,” said Bob Lanz, vice president of public affairs for Coca-Cola. “Our goal is to create 100,000 jobs in the next four years by encouraging job creation and expansion. Anytime, you can double capacity without building bricks and mortars is a good thing.”

Lanz took Murray and Harkins on a tour of the plant, with Murray noting the new waterline should be a boon for the area.

“This is an example of people working on the local level, working together on a solution to help a valuable company expand,” Murray said.

Selectman Jerry Wasserman said more water use by the plant could help cash-strapped Needhamites seeking a break on their water bills.

“If they increase their volume, use of water, it will hold down the cost to the average residential water user,” Wasserman said.

He said the extra water revenue would go into the water enterprise fund, which allows the town to hold down the price.

After his visit to the Coca-Cola, Murray, who is the former mayor of Worcester, went to Town Hall, where he met with town officials. Wasserman said the visit, which included a tour of Town Hall, was brief, but noted Murray did sit down with them in the past to discuss state funding.

“He’s very aware of the issues in Needham with funding,” Wasserman said. “The visit was to acquaint him a little with the town … the lieutenant governor does understand local government a little bit because he comes from it. “

But Wasserman said he couldn’t help but remind Murray of what town officials feel is a lack of state funding. During the tour, as Murray and selectmen walked past a safe containing important town documents, Wasserman quipped: